Update: Gearing Up and Buckling Down

As many of you know, I recently went up to Kodiak, Alaska for my sister’s wedding.  It was absolutely wonderful. 
Freezing and raining during the actual ceremony, and the week before might have been the busiest week of my life (can’t even imagine if I had been the bride), but it was beautiful, and the sky cleared after a while giving us a spectacular sunset on the mountains.  It was definitely unforgettable, not the least of which was seeing Jay and Nannette so happy. 

While I was in Kodiak I also helped in the pre-school and the last week of summer camp, as well as with some administrative work.  I was also privileged to attend and speak at their church, Kodiak Christian Fellowship, which is an amazing church with a tremendous heart for the Lord; I always feel loved and completely at home in their midst.

My last stop in Alaska was to visit my very good friend Liesel in Juneau and catch up whilst also getting some much needed rest (she used to counsel with me at Camp Bahamas).  By the by, congratulations to her for getting married last Friday!

I have been home now for a few weeks and back in the bustle of preparing for Italy, which brings me to my main topic here.  The Lord has been pressing on my heart to get in gear and make support raising my full-time job.  For a while now it has been the highest priority on my list, but not the main focus of my time like it should be.  Therefore, I am here to declare that I am in full support raising mode and would like to ask if any of you would like to partner with me financially.  As of now I am about 17% funded (monthly support pledged), and hoping to get on the field somewhere between January and early spring.  I cannot do this alone, and while I greatly appreciate those who have been supporting me through prayer (I need it so much), I ask you to pray about joining me by giving monthly. 

I will be sending out letters this week to those here in the KC area who may not have been able to attend my open house, and to others I have addresses for, and I am hoping to continue speaking at churches around the country (If anyone has a church or small group, or even just some friends who might be interested in hearing about what the Lord is doing in Italy, or joining me in this ministry, I would love to talk to you about it!). 

I know that the Lord is doing things all over the world, and that what He is sending me to do is just a tiny part of it, but I wish I could truly express to you my heart, and how excited I am to follow Him and see what He does, even through this process of support raising.

Please pray for me, I need your encouragement and prayers so much!  I could never do this without the amazing godly people the Lord has sent to encourage and support me through everything.  Thank you.  I am praying that the Lord takes you so much deeper with Him than you ever imagined– that He stirs up the dream in your heart and connects it with His to raise you up into the child of His you were created to be; someone who truly knows Him deeply and makes Him known wherever you are. 

Prayer Requests:

– For the Lord to open up the right doors during this support raising journey
– Courage and boldness
– His abundant provision, both during this process and to be able to leave for the field
– The Lord to open the hearts of the Italian people
– To keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, no matter what